News

KDKA reporter Ralph Iannotti interviewed GSPIA students engaged in a joint research project with the FBI spearheaded by Associate Professor Michael Kenney. The foundation for the partnership developed out of the student working groups at the Matthew Ridgway Center for International Security Studies at GSPIA, under the leadership of Dr. Phil Williams, director of the center. “As a policy school, GSPIA strives to give its students experience in conducting policy relevant research inside and outside the classroom,” explained Associate Professor Kenney. The students in the group work collaboratively and share a common interest in a career in intelligence and law enforcement. Read more.

Dr. Donald Goldstein, affectionately known to many GSPIANs as “Goldy,” has passed away after a lengthy illness. During his 35-year career at the University, Dr. Goldstein taught 259 courses, presented more than 14,000 lectures and took approximately 3,700 students on a two-day tour of the nation’s capital. He also served as the director of the Matthew B. Ridgway Center, and contributed tremendously to the University by donating a collection of World War II artifacts to the school.

The Matthew Ridgway Center recently hosted former U.S. Ambassador Thomas Pickering of the Iran Project to discuss the state of the Iran Nuclear Deal. Ambassador Pickering began his talk encouraging tough questions. “The most intrusive and difficult questions are the ones we should be exploring together,” said Pickering.

Pitt’s Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security announced its inaugural cohort of 24 renowned Pitt affiliate faculty which includes six GSPIA professors. The affiliate scholars represent a wide range of professional and scholarly research interests. They include counterterrorism experts, computer science technologists, foreign policy analysts, information security professionals, legal scholars and other thought leaders. As affiliate scholars, the chosen faculty will continue to make strides in their respective fields of study while collaborating within Pitt Cyber. The following GSPIA faculty members comprise the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security’s inaugural affiliate scholars:

Dr. Michael Poznansky, assistant professor of international affairs and intelligence studies, welcomed cybersecurity expert Dr. Jon Lindsay, Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, Munk School of Global Affairs to GSPIA, Monday, Feb. 27. During the lecture, Dr. Lindsay explained that it's best to think about cybersecurity not as its own unique phenomenon but rather in the light of intelligence.

By Colin P. Clarke (Ph.D., '11) & Chad C. Serena (Ph.D., '10)

As he promised on the campaign trail, President Donald Trump has moved quickly against the Islamic State, directing the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop an aggressive plan to defeat the group and temporarily banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. Critics of the ban believe it will actually weaken domestic counterterrorism efforts and bolster Islamic State propaganda and recruitment. But there is another glaring hole in this strategy as it is currently comprised: it fails to address another half-dozen or so other terrorist groups throughout the world that threaten American security and global order.

David J. Hickton, former United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, has been appointed founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security.

Dr. Michael Poznansky, assistant professor of international affairs and intelligence studies, spoke with KDKA host Robert Mangino about the latest developments between the U.S. Intelligence Community and President-elect Trump. The discussion focused on the recent upheaval over President-elect Trump’s “Tweets” regarding the intelligence community assessment of the Russian government’s attempt to interfere with the presidential election.

The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh invites applications and nominations for a non-tenure-stream faculty position as a Senior Lecturer in Intelligence Studies to begin in the fall term of 2017 (authorization pending). This is a three-year contract position with the possibility of renewal. The successful candidate will have at least a master’s degree in international affairs (or a related field) and expertise in the intelligence field based on at least ten years of professional experience working for one or more U.S. intelligence agencies.